[Dixielandjazz] Steve and Tom

[Rob McCallum]

Dear listmates,

The information posted to this forum by Steve Barbone and Tom Wiggins is 
infinitely valuable to bringing this music back as a viable art form, 
period.  Steve consistently shows that this music does not have to remain in 
the realm of "specialist" festivals and hokey styrofoam hats, and more 
importantly, that this music is a part of a living jazz scene (albeit 
currently in a very small, but growing, way).  Steve presents a model for 
any jazz musician interested in performing early styles to take this music 
and revitalize it and develop a market for it.  To make it a living music. 
It takes initiative and work and a belief that it can be successful.  To 
inspire a potential is not an easy thing to do.  Tom provides so much 
technical music-business knowledge, it's foolish not to utilize his 
experience.

So some of you aren't interested in this.  You play for your own amusement, 
don't care if you take away someone's job by offering to play for free as 
long as you're having fun, or you're a successful musician who doesn't need 
anyone telling you what to do.  Good for you and who cares?  You all have a 
delete key (goodness knows I delete far more messages than I read from this 
list). I believe that there are more musicians on this list than not that 
appreciate someone offering all the knowledge Tom and Steve do at no charge 
(in an era with $5,000 per session motivational speakers you should be 
grateful anyone even bothers) illustrating how you too can contribute 
something to traditional jazz and make money doing so.  Why is music 
economics so important?  Well, in my case (and I'm sure for at least some of 
you), if I make money gigging, then I can justify spending more time playing 
music and gigging.  For those of you who are fiscally set and have nothing 
but leisure time to play music, you're very fortunate. Most people aren't in 
an economic position to do so.  So, unless I only want to play for a couple 
of hours on the weekend when I can fit it in, I have to be bringing in some 
money playing. The more money=the more time I can devote to my art and 
contribute to this music.  Otherwise, I might as well be putting in some 
overtime at my job, which I would have to do.


I've always found that professional musicians in general (of every genre) 
think the world owes them something (a living, a gig, an audience, respect, 
a record deal, whatever).  If we look at ourselves honestly, I'm sure most 
of us on this list have felt that way, if not all the time, then at least 
from time to time.  Steve and Tom tell us that that is garbage (although in 
a subtler way).  No one in this world owes any Dixieland musician a thing.  
So, if you're someone who wants to sit around and wait for the phone to 
ring, it isn't.  Steve and Tom believe that we, as musicians, should be 
taken seriously.  Both of them have always been willing to share their 
knowledge and experiences.  They remind us each day that this is worth doing 
and it's worth doing right.

To whine that they are overbearing? That they're always being critical?  
That's a crock.  That they are guilty of believing that this music can make 
a viable resurgence?  Yes, guilty, a thousand times so.  And now they, who 
devote so much time actually contributing something to this list, are 
leaving.  Heck, Tom even posts musicians-wanted gigs for your bands on this 
list. I can't recall anyone else on this list ever doing that.  These 
gentlemen give you something for nothing. They have helped me; I'm sure 
they've helped many of you.  Tom was even willing to chat with me on the 
phone for a lengthy conversation explaining some very detailed legal, CD 
recording and hiring issues, and seemed happy to do so.  I doubt I'd have 
been able to find a lawyer in my city to give such detailed and pertinent 
music-related info at any cost.  I don't doubt that he'd do the same for any 
of you.  I can't blame them for leaving the list.  I suppose they were 
wasting their time.

"Show me your achievement, and it will give me courage for mine."  --Ayn 
Rand

Before you send me hate mail, I'm leaving as well.

All the best,
Rob McCallum